Releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
34
m
Shrub Height
5
m
Field Height
6
m
Tree Cover
90
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
90
%
Nonvascular Cover
4
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
GPS data could not be obtained but the site was mapped reasonably accurately using topographic features. This plot was positioned in a very shallow, linear swale at back edge of the Potomac River floodplain, adjacent to the bluffs. This site is likely subject to more frequent flooding than most of the adjacent floodplain. The vegetation is a variant of the area's typical rich floodplain forest and is characterized by an apparently even-aged stand of Platanus occidentalis with a relatively open understory. The herb layer is lush, with Hydrophyllum canadense overwhelmingly dominant, but nearly lacks Mertensia virginica, Asarum canadense, and other species that are usually abundant in this community. Overall species richness is comparatively low.